Improvement in key-caps for key-board instruments



l. P. LORD.

4Key-Gaps for Kay-Board Instruments.

No. 144,399. Patented N0v.\1,\a73.

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JOHN P. LORD, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEY-CARS I-'oR KEY-BOARD INSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,399, dated November i1, 1873; application filed May 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN l). LORD, of Mair chester, in the county of Hillsborough and- State of New Hampshire, have invented certain Improvements in the Caps to the Keys of Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specioation:

The nature of my invention consists in combining crystal caps with the keys of musical instruments namely, pianos, organs, serapl1ines,melodeons, and all other musical instruments havin similar keys and key-boards-the object of said invention being to substitute the said crystal caps for ivory and ebony, now generally used as a covering for instrumental keys. My invention relates to the compositions or materials from which the said caps are madehow they are made, and how combined with the instrumental keys; also, to the mode of ornamenting the said caps and the composi tions or materials used for that purpose.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, like parts in the different drawings being lettered the same.

No. l represents a bottom view of the caps that cover the natural keys, (so-called.) No. 2 represents a bottom. view of the caps that cover the keys to the iiats and sharps, (socalled.) No. 3 represents a side view of No. l combined with the key, (natural.) No. 4L represents a side view of No. 2 combined with the key, (ats and sha1-ps.) No. 5 is a plan of the sam e.

These caps A and A A, which embody the first part of my invention, are made from artiiicial crystal, or what is known to the arts and trade as glass, porcelain, china-ware, stoneware, or compositions or materials ofthe same nature. They are cast, cut, ground, or blown,

and formed to suit the shape and size of the keys that they cover. They are made one eighth of an inch in thickness, (more or less,) the front ends O covering the key E at the end. Upon the bottom two lips, B B, are formed, one-quarter of an inch long, wide and deep, leaving a space, G, between the top and lips B B. The rear ends of said caps A and A A are made with two lips, D D, upon the bottom, (same as the front ends,) but a space of one-eighth ot' an inch is left between the top and lips D D, as shown at H, and the ends L are iitted into the key E. They are made to cover only so much of the keys E as project upon the lap of the key-board, and are secured by fitting the key E into the space G and H, and with glue or cement. These caps A and A A are made transparent or opaque, and are colored, stained, or painted ot' any desirable tint or shade. They are enameled or burnished, and ornamented with designs, shapes, figures, or letters, by being cast, cut, ground, blown, or etched therein, or with alloys, amalgams, gold leaf or foil, silver leaf or foil, or with precipitates of gold or silver, or by being plated so as to reflect.

l claim as my inventionl. The method of uniting the caps A and A A with their respective keys E and E by means of the dovetails L D and G B, substann tially as described and shown. v

2. The combination of the ornamented glass or crystal caps A and A A, constructed as described, with tl'Icir respective keys E and E, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN l?. LORD.

Vitnesses SEYMOURl A. Bosrwrek, Trios. H. DUNHAM, Jr. 

